Nierembergia plant named ‘Sunniparibu’

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Nierembergia  plant having an erect growth habit. The  Nierembergia  plant has many branches, and a great profusion of blooms, the whole plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flowers are single and large, the petals having strong purple with moderate purple towards the center. Yellow eye presents at the bottom of corolla throat. 
     The plant exhibits high resistance to heat, cold, rain and disease.

Botanical classification: Nierembergia sp.

Varietal denomination: Sunniparibu.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Nierembergia plant originated the from crossing of Nierembergia hybrid varieties ‘NB3’ as the female parent and ‘NSB4’ as the male parent. ‘Sunniparibu’ is a vegetative propagated variety.

The female parent ‘NB3’ used in the crossing to produce ‘Sunniparibu’ is a strain of our breeding lines grown at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, having a tufted, bushy shape. The plant height is lower than ‘Sunniparibu’. The flowers are single and medium size, having strong purple with moderate purple towards the center.

The male parent ‘NSB4’ used in the crossing to produce ‘Sunniparibu’ is a strain of our breeding lines grown in Omi, Shiga-ken, Japan, having erect growth habit. The plant height is about the same as ‘Sunniparibu’. The flowers are single and large, having light purple with strong purple towards the center.

In July 1995, crossing of ‘NB3’ (unpatented) as the female parent and ‘NSB4’ (unpatented) as the male parent was conducted at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, and seedlings were obtained. In October 1996, one seedling was selected in view of its growth habit, flower size and color. That seedling was propagated by cutting, and a trial was carried out by flower potting in the glasshouse and field from May to October 1997, at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, using similar varieties ‘Sunnicobu’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,934) and ‘Montebranco’ (unpatented) for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this Nierembergia plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is known to us, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics. The new variety of Nierembergia plant was named ‘Sunniparibu’.

In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour Chart).

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new variety is unlike any Nierembergia commercially available as evidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

-   -   1. Erect growth habit with many branches.     -   2. Great profusion of blooms with the entire plant remaining in         bloom for a considerable period of time.     -   3. The flowers are single and large. The petal color is         generally strong purple (near R.H.S. 86B) with moderate purple         (near R.H.S. 83A) towards the center. Yellow eye presents at the         bottom of corolla throat.     -   4. The plant has a high resistance to rain, cold, heat and         disease.

The new variety ‘Sunniparibu’ differs from the similar variety ‘Sunnicobu’ in the following points.

-   -   1. The growth habit of ‘Sunniparibu’ is erect, while that of         ‘Sunnicobu’ is tufted.     -   2. The plant of ‘Sunniparibu’ is larger than that of         ‘Sunnicobu’.     -   3. The leaf of ‘Sunniparibu’ is larger than that of ‘Sunnicobu’.     -   4. The flower diameter of ‘Sunniparibu’ is larger than that of         ‘Sunnicobu’.     -   5. The petal color of ‘Sunniparibu’ is generally strong purple         (near R.H.S. 86B), but toward the center becomes moderate purple         (R.H.S. 83A). ‘Sunnicobu’ is generally light purple (near R.H.S.         85B) with moderate purple (near R.H.S. N88C) towards the center.     -   6. The rain, heat, disease resistance of ‘Sunniparibu’ is         stronger than that of ‘Sunnicobu’.

The new variety ‘Sunniparibu’ differs from the similar variety ‘Montebranco’ in the following points.

-   -   1. The growth habit of ‘Sunniparibu’ is erect, while that of         ‘Montebranco’ is tufted.     -   2. The plant of ‘Sunniparibu’ is larger than that of         ‘Montebranco’.     -   3. The leaf of ‘Sunniparibu’ is larger than that of         ‘Montebranco’.     -   4. The flower diameter of ‘Sunniparibu’ is larger than that of         ‘Montebranco’.     -   5. The petal color of ‘Sunniparibu’ is strong purple (near         R.H.S. 86B) with moderate purple (near R.H.S. 83A) towards the         center, while that of ‘Montebranco’ is yellowish white (near         R.H.S. 155D).     -   6. The rain, heat, disease resistance and cold hardiness of         ‘Sunniparibu’ are stronger than those of ‘Montebranco’.

This new variety of Nierembergia plant ‘Sunniparibu’ was asexually reproduced using cuttings at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, and the homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The depicted plants were reproduced by cuttings and were photographed during September 1998 while growing in 30 cm pot at an age of approximately 10 months at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical plant of the new variety of Nierembergia plant ‘Sunniparibu’ growing in a pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of foliage and blossoms of the new variety of Nierembergia plant ‘Sunniparibu’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Nierembergia plant named ‘Sunniparibu’ are as follows when observed during September at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, at an age of approximately 10 months.

-   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Erect.         -   Height.—Approximately 29 cm.         -   Spread.—Approximately 28 cm. -   Stem:     -   -   Thickness.—Approximately 2.3 mm.         -   Color.—Near R.H.S. 146A (moderate olive green).         -   Branching.—Abundant.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Length of internode.—Approximately 9 mm. -   Leaf:     -   -   Whole shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Length.—Approximately 35 mm.         -   Width.—Approximately 4.5 mm.         -   Color of upper side.—Near R.H.S. 146A (moderate olive             green).         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Attachment angle to stem.—Horizontal.         -   Petiole.—Absent. -   Flower:     -   -   Facing direction.—Upward.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Rotate, with five-fissures.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 38 mm.         -   Shape of petal tip.—Obtuse. Considerable variation in the             shape and size.         -   Petal margin.—Entire, occasionally sinuate.         -   Length of corolla tube.—Approximately 16 mm.         -   Color of petal.—Upper side: near R.H.S. 86B (strong purple)             with near R.H.S. 83A (moderate purple) towards the center.             Reverse side: near R.H.S. 85B (light purple).         -   Eye color.—Near R.H.S. 6B (brilliant greenish yellow).         -   Size of eye color.—Approximately 4.0 mm.         -   Outside color of corolla tube.—Near R.H.S. 85B (light             purple).         -   Flowering habit.—When planted in April in Japan, the             blooming period extends from June to October. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Color of stigma.—Near R.H.S. 144A (Strong yellow green). -   Stamen:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Type.—Epigynoecious.         -   Color of anther.—Near R.H.S. 12A (vivid yellow). -   Hardiness:     -   -   Winter.—USDA Hardiness Zone 8-12 (Grown as perennial).         -   Rain.—No serious damage has been observed during the rainy             season (June-July) in Japan. However, heavy rain may damage             flower petals due to their thinness, which is a common             phenomenum in the Nierembergia genus.         -   Heat.—The plant grows well at temperatures up to at least             35° C. -   Resistance:     -   -   Disease.—No serious damage by powdery mildew or root rot has             been observed.         -   Insect.—Good. Under the dry condition, may have some damage             by the spider mite.

This new variety of Nierembergia plant ‘Sunniparibu’ is most suitable for flower bedding and potting. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Nierembergia plant named ‘Sunniparibu’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 